Sindh Assembly condemns Bhatti's assassination

The Sindh Assembly on Friday through a unanimous resolution condemned the killing of federal minister for minorities' affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti and termed the assassination another attack on peace and progress of Pakistan. Sindh Minister for Power, Shazia Ata Marri moved the resolution, which received a unanimous vote from coalition partners ANP, MQM and PML F, besides a small opposition.
Members rose to pay tribute to Shahbaz Bhatti for his services to the nation and called him a brave person who had laid down his life for Pakistan. The session began with Deputy Speaker, Shehla Raza in the chair who later relaxed all the rules under Rule 211 to allow Shazia Marri to move the resolution under Rule 102 of the Rules and Procedures of Sindh Assembly.
"This Assembly strongly condemns the assassination of Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, a man of courage and a symbol of equality in Pakistan, committed to the ideals of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto; recognises his assassination as yet another attack on the peace and progress of Pakistan; and expresses deepest condolence to the bereaved family, and to the people of Pakistan," the resolution says.
Moving the resolution, Shazia Marri said Pakistan was a country where people enjoyed their life with equal opportunities irrespective of their religious backgrounds and the slain Bhatti was one amongst them. Paying tributes to Bhatti, she said he like other members from minorities continued to work for the betterment of Pakistan and its progress.
She pointed out the country's Christian minority was serving in a greater number, especially in the departments of healthcare and education. She regretted a minority minister had been assassinated who throughout his life had intended to depict Pakistan as a country embracing its citizens equally regardless of their different religious affiliations.
Shazia Mari asserted that Bhatti's killing had further encouraged the nation to fight extremism and terrorism fearlessly. Expressing his fears, Dr Daya Ram said the killing of the federal minorities minister would tarnish the face of Islam as a religion of peace and Pakistan.
He maintained Bhatti's murder would hurt country's foreign investment prospects. He said Pakistan was the only country in the world giving dual electoral rights to minorities, allowing them to cast vote on general seats and on reversed ones. Muhammad Shaharyar Khan invited the government's attention towards the issue, which led to Bhatti's killing, saying measures were needed to stop murders of people on such grounds.
Nusrat Saher Abbasi also condemned the incident and said the Bhatti's assassination would weak Pakistan. Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hussain, Amir Nawab, Agha Siraj Durrani, Humera Alwani, Pitanbar Siwani, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Shamimara Phanwar, Shama Mitani, Muhammad Bachal Shah and Ayaz Soomro also condemned the killing and expressed sympathy with Bhatti's family. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker announced that the Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan had given assent to the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad (Amendment) Bill, 2011. She adjourned the session till Monday morning at 10 am.